Dignitaries and VIPs from across the country attended the grand reopening of St Mary’s Cathedral on December 8, celebrating extensive renovations which have taken over three years and cost over $33 million.
Standing opposite the main entrance to the cathedral as the guests arrived, a small but effective protest organised by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence drew attention from both attendees and local news services.
Mother Gretta Amylletta of the Holy Vapours and Sister Freda Bang Bang Me Like a Boomerang were joined by approximately 15 members of the GLBT community as they held bunches of helium-filled condoms and handed out safe-sex packs in an effort to draw attention to the Catholic Church’s stance against condom use.
‘There is this misconception among some Catholics that condoms are only used by promiscuous gay men- they don’t see it as a problem for heterosexuals,’ protest organiser, Neil Buckley said.
‘The ban of the use of condoms has also led to the death of millions people especially in the developing world’.
According to a statement released by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence before the event, the protest also aimed to draw attention to the church’s homophobic teachings in regards to marriage rights and the ‘acceptance of practicing gays and lesbians as full spiritual people’.
Despite negative comments from selected passersby, Buckley said he felt the protest was a success.
‘We did get a lot of flack for doing it right there but I think we need to get to people at the grass roots level,’ he said.
‘Its important for them to realise that there is a problem, then they can go to their priests and say “this is not okâ€.’
The service for the reopening was attended by 300 priests and 33 bishops from around the country including the head of the Catholic Church in Australia, Cardinal George Pell, who chose to use an alternative entrance to the cathedral.
‘Ironically Pell had to use the rear entrance… I hope he had a safe-sex pack on him,’ said Buckley.
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